National Health Commission Announces 11 Key Initiatives to Improve Medical Services in 2017

February 8,The National Health and Family Planning Commission held a press conference to introduce the details of the “Action Plan for Further Improving Medical Services.” Jiao Yahui, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Medical Administration and Hospital Management under the National Health and Family Planning Commission, stated that 11 key tasks were identified in 2017 to further enhance medical services, including expanding pilot programs for real-name appointment-based diagnosis and treatment.

2017 marked the final year of the first three-year “Action Plan.” Jiao Yahui stated that, on one hand, there was a desire to translate truly effective measures into established institutional frameworks; on the other hand, new initiatives would be further explored to address prominent issues raised by the public, striving to achieve new progress in appointment-based diagnosis and treatment, day surgery, emergency care and first aid, as well as safety in consultation areas and the protection of patient privacy.

This year, the “Action Plan” will continue to be implemented across medical institutions at all levels and of various types, with a focus on tertiary urban hospitals, and 11 key tasks have been identified:

First, implement appointment-based diagnosis and treatment in a scientific manner, gradually expand pilot programs for real-name appointment systems, and explore the implementation of centralized appointments for examinations and tests.

Second, strengthen the allocation of medical resources by flexibly distributing outpatient, inpatient, pharmacy, and other healthcare resources across institutions based on patient demand.

Third, promote daytime medical services, strengthen refined management of daytime surgeries, and explore the development of other daytime medical services.

Fourth, continuously improve medical quality, implement the "Measures for the Administration of Medical Quality," focus on achieving continuous management of medical quality in tiered diagnosis and treatment, and strengthen infection control in clinical and medical technology departments.

Fifth, advance the management of clinical pathways, further expand their coverage, and fully leverage their role as a tool for medical quality control and management.

6. Innovate emergency medical services and encourage the exploration of multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment models, such as chest pain centers and stroke centers.

Seventh, fully leverage information technology to provide information query and push services, as well as digital settlement and payment solutions; establish a two-way referral information platform to ensure the continuity of tiered diagnosis and treatment services.

Eighth, we will deepen the advancement of high-quality nursing care, further expand the coverage of high-quality nursing services, and implement the primary nursing system for holistic patient care.

9. Strengthen pharmaceutical affairs management and the development of pharmacist teams, and transform the model of pharmaceutical care services.

10. Leverage the distinctive advantages of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), explore and establish models such as comprehensive TCM treatment, and meet patients’ demands for TCM medical services.

11. Strengthen safety in consultation areas and protect patient privacy, provide a favorable clinical environment for both medical staff and patients, foster harmonious doctor-patient relationships, and promote positive industry practices.

At the press conference, a reporter asked how a series of measures to improve medical services could be advanced in tandem with the broader blueprint for deepening healthcare reform. Jiao Yahui responded that, in the process of improving medical services, emphasis has consistently been placed on simultaneously advancing public hospital reform and the tiered diagnosis and treatment system. She noted that without public hospital reform and the promotion of tiered diagnosis and treatment, the current issue of overcrowding in large hospitals cannot be fundamentally resolved.

Jiao Yahui further stated that, in the process of advancing healthcare reform, the National Health and Family Planning Commission has prioritized strengthening the tiered diagnosis and treatment system and proactively allocating medical resources—particularly high-quality ones. Through structural reforms on the supply side of the healthcare service system, the aim is to improve patients’ experience in seeking medical care.

Jiao Yahui stated that the National Health and Family Planning Commission recently issued a plan for the establishment of National Medical Centers and National Regional Medical Centers, encouraging the development of telemedicine services in remote and impoverished areas. Through these measures, medical resources are to be decentralized, while fostering a community of shared interests, responsibilities, and services. This represents a supply-side structural reform in the process of advancing the construction of a tiered diagnosis and treatment system.

Jiao Yahui emphasized that the National Health and Family Planning Commission will strengthen the construction of medical service capabilities in county-level hospitals, enhance grassroots medical service capacity through measures such as paired assistance, targeted support, and trusteeship, vigorously train general practitioners, and address the issue of initial diagnosis at the primary care level.

The meeting addressed the difficulties the public faces in accessing medical care and the lack of transparency in diagnostic and treatment information. In response, Jiao Yahui stated that the National Health and Family Planning Commission is leveraging information technology to strengthen time-slot-based appointment systems for diagnosis and treatment, provide high-quality nursing services, streamline medical expense settlement, and optimize service processes. These measures aim to reduce waiting times and improve the public’s experience in seeking medical care.

What effects will time-slot-based appointment scheduling for diagnosis and treatment achieve? Jiao Yahui introduced that this measure can effectively alleviate peak hours for medical consultations, ensuring that the public no longer experiences overcrowding when seeking medical care.

Finally, Jiao Yahui stated that it is essential to continuously enhance the public’s sense of gain from healthcare reform, ensuring that all people share in the dividends of the reforms.